Will 'APU' reappear in college football on Saturday?

Sep. 27, 2013
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Northwestern quarterback Kain Colter (2) sets up to throw a pass while wearing a wristband with the phrase APU written on it during the game against Maine on Sept. 21 at Ryan Field in Evanston, Ill. / Jerry Lai Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

by Daniel Uthman, USA TODAY Sports

by Daniel Uthman, USA TODAY Sports

One week after players from three college football teams wore the abbreviation for the term "All Players United" on their game equipment, will the letters be displayed again? It's unclear, said one of the guiding forces of the action, National College Players Association director Ramogi Huma.

"We do have other players interested in participating," Huma told USA TODAY Sports on Friday. "I don't know that we will see that tomorrow, because every team is different."

A number of players from Georgia Tech, Georgia and Northwestern marked their equipment with the letters "APU" for their Sept. 21 games in a symbolic act to push for more protections and benefits for college athletes, particular from the NCAA on the issue of player safety and concussions.

In the days after, coverage of the players' acts and message spread through the media. Meanwhile, Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson told reporters a team vote on wearing the letters should have happened, and Georgia coach Mark Richt reacted by citing the First Amendment and the fact his players stated the message "in a respectful way". And Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald told USA TODAY Sports on Thursday:

"It was a teachable moment for me with Kain (Colter) on Sunday to help him understand that I am fully and unconditionally in support of him, and feel strongly that way. But at the same time, our expectation here for everyone is to work within the team context. And when you don't for the first time, it's a coachable and teachable moment. Moving forward, it's expected that it'll stay within that framework.

"I'm fully supportive of him and fully supportive of what guys are trying to do to increase the opportunities and the experiences for student-athletes. I think I've been pretty outspoken that I'm a big proponent, I'm a big fan of whatever's going to make the student-athlete experience improve. I'm fully on board with it. But I think those are discussions that need to be vetted, need to be handled by people a lot smarter than I am. Kain is one of those guys, to be quite frank with you. In a bigger scheme of things, I'd rather have it be in a team context.

"I think the winds of change are blowing. I think whatever's going to be better for the student-athlete I'm strongly in favor."

Whether the messages will reappear on football fields Saturday are unclear.

"None of the schools have expressly prohibited it at this point," Huma said. "None of the players have been punished. The only question that remains is whether they will continue."